Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Emporia by IHG

The room had a roomy closet with an ironing board, plus a safe for anything you wanted to secure. It was clean, and the breakfast was great, with a good variety of hot food and an awesome breakfast staff. We only found out the next morning that the fridge wasn't working. Luckily we had nothing perishable in it, but our ice bags had completely defrosted.

There are lots of places to eat nearby, with a grocery store and Walmart less than a mile away. The kids enjoyed the small indoor pool, though its temperature seems hit or miss. One man said it was freezing the night before, then comfortable the next night. From other reviews, I'd guess it's about a 50/50 chance of getting a warm pool. My kids had no problems and had fun. The gym and laundry room are there too, and coffee is available in the lobby around the clock. Everyone we met was friendly and helpful. This is a smaller Holiday Inn than most, with parking only in the front lot. It seems to nearly sell out most weekends, so I'd reserve ahead. Breakfast runs until 9:30, but that was my main complaint: the eggs were bland, the sausage overcooked, and even the individually wrapped bagels were stale. The hotel still gets four stars from me, and I'd stay here again.

I wish hotel chains would let paying guests open a small window for fresh air. Otherwise, this was a five-star stay: we got a warm, gracious welcome when we arrived at 5, the room was immaculate, and the night was quiet. No perfume-like spray smell, either.

I had to book at the last minute because of the weather and the time. The woman at the front counter was very sweet and helpful, but the room was a different experience. It didn't feel inviting, and it smelled as if someone had smoked there before me. People were smoking outside by the window, so maybe that's how it got in, but they need to keep it out of the room. Even the linens smelled like smoke, and the bathroom wasn't very inviting either. Maybe the rooms on other floors are better. I'm only speaking about mine. I'd come back, just not to the first floor.